Situation in Egypt may compromise Middle East peace process

The US has voiced disapproval over Egypt's Vice-President Omar Suleiman's comments about the country being unready for democracy, and called on the government to lift its 30-year-old state of emergency.

After numerous calls from the demonstrators and the opposition for President Hosni Mubarak to step down, Mubarak has said he plans to do so come September election time.

US Vice-President Joe Biden urged that the transition should produce, "Immediate, irreversible progress that responds to the aspirations of the Egyptian people…The real test of the revolution's success or failure is whether it changes Egypt permanently.”

Biden also called on the Egyptian government to cease arresting and abusing demonstrators and journalists, adding that the interior ministry should be under strict instruction and there should be a policy of no reprisals.

Speaking about Suleiman's remarks, US President Barack Obama's spokesman, Robert Gibbs, deemed them "particularly unhelpful", and added that they were unconstructive and in opposition of progress. The US has ordered Egypt to make “concrete changes”, but the Egyptian government has met the idea of change grudgingly, and has showed little inclination to take any action.

As the protests enter their third week, many of Western powers are starting to voice concern that the turmoil sweeping MENA States will compromise the ongoing Middle East peace process. Britain's Foreign Minister William Hague said:"Amidst the opportunity for countries like Tunisia and Egypt, there is a legitimate fear that the Middle East peace process will lose further momentum and be put to one side, and will be a casualty of uncertainty in the region.”

Hague voiced his concerns after Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded aggressively to the calls for change in Egypt, pledging to "reinforce the might of the state of Israel" regardless of how the situation is resolved.

Sources: BBC News, The Telegraph, Jerusalem Post, The Guardian

For more news and expert analysis about Egypt, please see Egypt Politics & Security.

Israel starts building barrier on Egypt border

Work is beginning in Israel on a barrier along the border with Egypt, aimed at stemming the flow of illegal immigrants into the country.

The barrier, including an electric fence and surveillance technology, will run for 250km (155 miles).

Work on the $372m (£232m) project is expected to take up to a year.

Hundreds of migrants - including many asylum seekers - enter Israel from Egypt every week, Israeli government figures suggest.

Egyptian border guards have shot dead dozens of migrants - mostly from Africa - in recent years.

Egyptian officials insist they only shoot at the border after those crossing ignore repeated orders to stop, and point out that human-trafficking gangs carry guns.

However, the UN and human rights groups have asked Egypt to stop excessive force being used.

The Israeli defence ministry said on Sunday 21st November that "dozens of heavy engineering vehicles will be deployed at points along the Israeli-Egypt border" on Monday.

The Israeli government approved the construction of the barrier in March, after months of planning and preparatory work.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the influx of illegal migrants across the border as a major threat to "the Jewish and democratic character of the state of Israel".

The Israeli immigration authority said in a report earlier this month that some 700 illegal migrants - a record number - infiltrated through the Egypt-Israel border on a weekly basis.

This marked an increase of about 300 per cent since the start of 2010, according to the report, which put the number of migrants at 10,858 over the January-November period.

In 2009, 4,341 migrants were recorded.

A deal struck between Libya and Italy in 2009 has cut off a popular sea route to Europe for illegal African migrants and helped direct the flow towards Israel.

Source: BBC

For more news and expert analysis about Egypt, please see Egypt Politics & Security.